April 2, 2008

Game Notes and Stats in PDF Format

Games 28-30

Gonzaga at No. 17 San Diego

Cunningham Stadium (1,200)

San Diego, Calif.

Friday, Apr. 4, 3 p.m.

Saturday, Apr. 5, 1 p.m.

Sunday, Apr. 6, 1 p.m.

Series Record:

USD leads 30-23-1

Live Stats: www.gozags.com

 

 

UP TO BAT: Following a wild weekend of weather delays, the Gonzaga University baseabll team will finally get back to the regular swing of things as the Bulldogs travel to San Diego for a rematch of the 2007 West Coast Conference series with the No. 17 University of San Diego. The series will open Friday at 3 p.m. at Cunningham Stadium before games Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m.

 

ON DECK: Following the three-game series at No. 17 University of San Diego, Gonzaga University will return home for a nine-game home stand at Patterson Baseball Complex and Washington Trust Field. The Bulldogs will open the home stand on Apr. 8 hosting Washington State University before a three-game West Coast Conference series with Santa Clara University Apr. 11-13. Gonzaga will then host the University of Washington for a pair of games Apr. 14 and 15 before resuming WCC play with a three-game series against University of Portland Apr. 18-20.

 

LAST OUTING: Following two and half days of weather delays, Gonzaga University and Pepperdine University played a modified two-game West Coast Conference series at Patterson Baseball Complex and Washington Trust Field. The Zags and Waves opened play Sunday evening as Pepperdine took the opening contest 10-0. The Waves took a 3-0 lead into the ninth before scoring seven runs, six unearned, in the final frame. The Bulldogs capped the series with a crucial 6-3 victory Monday afternoon as Marcus McKimmy and Mark Castellitto each recorded three hits a piece. Matt Fields and Cody Martin each posted solid outings on the mound. The duo combined to strike out nine en route to Fields' team-leading fourth victory of the season and Martin's fifth save of his career.

 

LIVE ON THE INTERNET: All Gonzaga University home games and select away games, including games this weekend, will be available via Gametracker on the internet at http://www.gozags.com. Check the Bulldogs' web site for all Gametracker links.

 

McKIMMY NAMED WCC CO-PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Marcus McKimmy, an outfielder for Gonzaga University, has been named the West Coast Conference Co-Player of the Month for March. McKimmy led the Zags to a 13-7 mark in March as the senior went 33-for-79 to hit at a .418 clip. The senior led GU with 22 hits and 25 runs scored while posting six doubles, three home runs and 25 runs batted in. The native of Yakima, Wash. recorded nine multiple-hit games, including seven contests with three hits. Following a player of the week accolade on Mar. 24, he closed out the month with a eight game hit streak. McKimmy shared the monthly honor with Pepperdine University's Eric Thames, who compiled a .403 average with six home runs.

 

SCOUTING THE TOREROS: The University of San Diego is currently ranked as high as 17th in the national polls as the Toreros boast a 19-10 overall record, including going 1-2 in West Coast Conference play. San Diego will play a game Wednesday against the University of Southern California before hosting Gonzaga University this weekend. The Toreros are led by two-way standout Josh Romanski. Romanski, who pitched a no-hitter a week ago to earn WCC Co-Pitcher of the Week accolades, currently maintains a .337 average at the plate while posting a perfect 4-0 record on the mound with a 4.04 earned run average. The USD pitching staff is bolstered by Brian Mastuz, who boasts a 5-1 record with a 1.81 ERA with 63 strikeouts. Both Romanski and Mastuz were members of the USA National Team a summer ago. Recently, the Toreros dropped a WCC series to Santa Clara University 2-1. Despite Gonzaga winning the regular season meeting in 2007, USD currently holds a slight 30-23-1 all-time advantage over the Zags.

 

LAST SEASON VERSUS THE TOREROS: Last season the University of San Diego and Gonzaga University faced off six times during the season - three times during the regular season and then three times during the West Coast Conference Championship. The Zags and Toreros spilt the games at three contests a piece. Gonzaga took the regular season meeting 2-1, while San Diego earned the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, taking two-of-three during the league championship. Shawn Wayt and Ryan Wiegand led the Bulldogs against USD as Wayt hit .450 with three runs batted in and Wiegand posted a .391 average with five runs scored.

 

FRESHMAN POSTS STRONG SHOWINGS ON THE MOUND: Cody Martin is enjoying a strong rookie campaign as the freshman is maintaining a 1-0 record with a 0.79 earned run average in 14 relief appearances. Martin, who hails from Dos Palos, Calif., also leads Gonzaga University with five saves. To date, Martin has thrown 22.2 innings, allowing four runs, two earned, on 15 hits with 25 strikeouts. He is also holding batters to a .185 batting average - the lowest of any Bulldog hurler.

 

CONTINGENCY PLAN: Due to inclement weather in Spokane, the scheduled three-game West Coast Conference series between Gonzaga University and Pepperdine University that was scheduled for last weekend had to be modified. The series was shortened to a two-game set in Spokane. The third game of the series will be played, if needed, later in the season should the game be necessary to determine seeding for the WCC Championship. Most likely, the game will be made up at a netural site in Southern California at the end of the season when the Zags take their already scheduled trip Los Angeles to face Loyola Marymount University May 16-18.

 

OUCH!: The Gonzaga University baseball team has been hit-by-a-pitch 54 times this season, including a season-high six times by Brigham Young University on Feb. 29. In comparison, Bulldog pitchers have plunked 26 batters to date. Senior Bryan Winston leads GU as he has been hit-by-a-pitch nine times. Last season in 58 games, the Zags were hit 65 times. According to official NCAA stats through games of Mar. 23, Gonzaga ranks fifth in the nation in the category. Prairie View and the University of South Florida currently lead the nation with 59 plunks.

 

CASTELLITTO ENJOYS STRONG SEASON: Sophomore Mark Castellitto is enjoying a breakout season for the Gonzaga University baseball team this season as he as is currently batting .362 in 17 games played. Castellitto has recorded four doubles, three home runs and a am-leading two triples this season. Last weekend, against Pepperdine University, Castellitto earned the starting nod as the designated hitter in both tilts. He hit at a .571 clip going 4-for-7 with two runs batted in and one run scored in the series.

 

MIGHTY MARCH: En route to posting a 13-7 record, the Gonzaga University baseball team posted a .320 average in the month of March. The Bulldogs were led by seven starters who hit .300 or better. Marcus McKimmy led the pack, batting at a .418 clip. Grant Kveder, Ryan Wiegand, Drew Heid, Mark Castellitto, Evan Wells and Jason Chatwood all posted batting averages of .300 or higher.

 

WIEGAND DRIVES TOWARDS CAREER LIST: Ryan Wiegand, first baseman for the Zags, continues to be a run producer for Gonzaga University as the junior has driven in 29 runs this season. For his career, the native of San Diego has posted 118 RBI, leaving him 25 short of cracking the career top-ten. For his career, Wiegand has posted 33 multiple-RBI games, including 14 during the 2007 campaign. This season, Wiegand has posted eight multiple-RBI games, including driving in six runs on Mar. 9 at the University of the Pacific.

 

MARTIN BUSTS INTO SINGLE SEASON RANKS: Freshman Cody Martin continues his strong rookie campaign, as the freshman earned a save while pitching 3.0 innings with four strikeouts against Pepperdine University. The right-hander now stands at five saves this season, placing him tied for fourth on the single season list and two short of the school record. Martin is tied with five other Zags who have earned five saves in a season, including current senior Brandon Harmon who accomplished the feat in 2005. Randy Bostic holds the school record after earning seven saves in 1982.

 

HARMON MOVES UP IN RECORD BOOK: Senior pitcher Brandon Harmon has moved into sole possession of second place in the Gonzaga University record book for career appearances. Harmon, who has started six games this season and made three relief appearances, was tied for fourth with Craig Miller (1979-82) with 67 appearances to start the season. The senior currently stands at 76 appearances. Recently, he replaced Tyrone Cunningham (1986-89), who stood at 71, for second place. Harmon is on pace to break the all-time appearance record of 81 appearances, held by Matt Siwek (1996-00).

 

McKIMMY EARNS NATIONAL HONORS: Marcus McKimmy continues to post an impressive senior campaign as he has earned West Coast Conference Player of the Week and Month accolades this season. In addition, the native of Yakima, was named the West Region Player of the Week by www.collegebaseballinsider.com and www.collegebaseballhub.com for the week of Mar. 17. McKimmy was awarded the honors after batting .423 during the week.

 

ZAGS APPEAR IN NATIONAL TOP-100: Six members of the Gonzaga University baseball team rank in the top-100 in official NCAA stats that were released Wednesday. Marcus McKimmy leads the pack, ranking in four categories. Ryan Wiegand, Bryan Winston, Evan Wells, Cody Martin and CJ McClure all appear in the stats as well.

 

MARCH MADNESS: The month of March was a long one for the Gonzaga University baseball team. The Zags were slated to play 22 games in the month, allowing for only eight days without any competitions, but due to weather at the end of the month GU played 20 contests, amassing a 13-7 mark. The month of April poses to be no easier on the Bulldogs, as the team will play 19 games in 30 days.

 

LIVE ON THE RADIO: Gonzaga University baseball team will have 15 remaining games aired live on the radio in the greater Spokane area this season. The Santa Clara University, University of Washington, University of Portland, Oregon State University, University of San Francisco series and two games against Washington State University will be aired live on 790 KGA. The broadcasts will begin 15 minutes prior to the scheduled first pitch. Calling games for the Bulldogs will be Tom Hudson with former head coach Steve Hertz providing color commentary.

 

BULLDOG BASEBALL ON TELEVISION: Four remaining Gonzaga University West Coast Conference baseball games will be aired on GUTV this season. Games Apr. 11-12 against Santa Clara University and Apr. 18-19 versus the University of Portland will all be aired live on the campus station.

 

PAIR OF ZAGS EARN WEEKLY WCC HONORS: Grant Kveder and Marcus McKimmy of the Gonzaga University baseball team have each been awarded West Coast Conference Player of the Week Accolades this season. Kveder earned the honor on Mar. 17 as the junior led GU to the 2008 Pepsi/Johnny Quick title after batting at a .500 clip with five runs batted in, five runs scored and two stolen bases. McKimmy earned the honor on Mar. 14 as the senior led the Zags to series victories over Utah Valley University and Sacramento State University. During the week, he hit .423, going 11-for-26, with four doubles, a home run and 13 runs batted in.

 

NEWCOMERS SEE TIME IN THE STARTING LINE-UP: The Gonzaga University starting line-up has been loaded with newcomers to the Zags' program this season, as five different newcomers have earned starts in at least half of Gonzaga's games. Transfers Marcus McKimmy and Jason Chatwood, have each earned starts in all 27 contests, while Grant Kveder, a junior transfer, has started 23 contests. Sophomore transfer Drew Heid has started 17 contests, while freshman Brett Nicholas has earned the starting nod in 15 contests. Anthony Synegal, a transfer from San Jose City, has started five games behind the plate and two as the designated hitter for the Zags.

 

PROTECTING POWELL: When senior Cory Powell takes the mound, you may notice something out of the ordinary. Powell, who redshirted the 2007 season, wears a helmet with a protective face mask when he pitches. During his junior season of high school at Borah High in Boise, Idaho, Powell took a ball off the face that changed his appearance on the mound forever. For the remainder of his baseball career he must pitch, play the infield or bat with the face mask, and subsequently the special helmet, in place. Earlier this season, Powell utilized a face mask that fit under a baseball hat, similar to one a basketball player would wear during a game. The mask interrupted his view, so Powell opted to return to wearing the special helmet on the mound.

 

KVEDER NAMED TOURNAMENT MVP: Junior Grant Kveder of the Gonzaga University baseball team was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2008 Pepsi/Johnny Quick Tournament. Kveder was named the MVP after posting an impressive .500 batting average during the six-game event. The Alberta native went 10-for-20 with five runs batted in, five runs scored and two stolen bases. Nine of Kveder's 10 hits came as singles and the junior recorded only one extra-base hit - a double. Kveder's strongest performance at the tournament was a 5-for-5 outing against New Mexico State University on Mar. 14. In the 17-10 Bulldog win, Kveder also drove in three runs while scoring three.

 

DOUBLE TAKE: When you look down into the Gonzaga University bullpen this season, don't take a double take, there are two Zags who look alike - twins Kyle and Jake Adkins. The Adkins brothers join the Bulldogs from Walnut Creek, Calif., where they both played at Los Lomas High. As a junior, Jake earned first-team All-Valley conference with a 0.86 earned run average in 20 innings with 25 strikeouts before falling victim to an injury as a senior. Kyle was a two-time All-Valley Conference selection as he earned three varsity letters in baseball. It is believed that the Adkins brothers are the only pair of identical twins in a bullpen at the NCAA Division I level.

 

BULLDOGS POST HIGHEST FINISH IN WCC PLAY IN 2007: By posting victories over then-No. 17 Pepperdine University on May 11 and 12, 2007, the Gonzaga University baseball team locked up its highest finish in WCC history, securing second place. Gonzaga had never finished higher than fifth when the conference played a non-divisional format. The Bulldogs finished fifth in 1996 and finished the 2006 campaign tied for fifth. The WCC played a non-divisional format Gonzaga's first three years in the conference (1996-98) and then went to the divisional format from 1999-05 before returning to non-divisional play last season.

 

ZAGS PICKED TO FINISH FIFTH: The Gonzaga University baseball team has been selected to finish fifth in the 2008 West Coast Conference preseason poll, as voted on by the conference's head coaches. Reigning WCC Champion, University of San Diego, received seven first place votes and a total of 49 points to edge out the Pepperdine University, 42 points, and Santa Clara University for first place. The Broncos also received one first place vote and 32 total points. Loyola Marymount University checked in at fourth with 29 points, just edging out the Zags, who received 28 points. The University of San Francisco was tabbed for a sixth place finish with 24 points, while University of Portland and the Saint Mary's College were picked to finish seventh and eighth with 12 and eight points, respectively.

 

ZAGS RAKE IN LEAGUE HONORS: Former Gonzaga University standout Clayton Mortensen headlined eight All-West Coast Conference accolades during the 2007 season. Mortensen was named the conference's Pitcher of the Year as well as an unanimous All-WCC selection. Joining Mortensen as unanimous all-conference selections were current Zags' Shawn Wayt and Ryan Wiegand. Former Bulldog Darin Holcomb was named All-WCC, while current sophomore Jeremy Stumetz was named to the All-Freshman team. Former Bulldogs Aaron McGuinness, Mike Terry and current GU hurler Brandon Harmon were awarded honorable mention accolades.

 

BULLDOGS EXCEL IN CLASSROOM: Two members, including one current member, of the Gonzaga University baseball team were awarded All-West Coast Conference academic accolades last season. Former Bulldog Aaron McGuinness and current second baseman Evan Wells each earned the distinction. McGuinness earned a 3.48 grade point average in exercise science while Wells posted a 3.95 GPA in journalism, which also placed him on the University's president's list.

 

PATTTERSON BASEBALL COMPLEX AND WASHINGTON TRUST FIELD: The 2008 season marks the second year of play at Patterson Baseball Complex and Washington Trust Field. The new home of Bulldog baseball is a state-of-the-art facility that also incorporates an old-time baseball feel. The new stadium includes 1,300 theater-style seats and includes classic brick detailing. Major League amenities include a state-of-the-art infield, a professional candle lighting system and authentic home and visitor dugouts with underground passages to full-service clubhouses. The first game at the new facility was March 15, 2007 against Rider University. The facility also features eight light poles, two which are 90 feet tall while the other six stand at 80 feet. Dedication ceremonies were held April 20, 2007 prior to the game against Saint Mary's College.

 

HEAD COACH Mark Machtolf: Mark Machtolf is in his fifth season as the head coach of the Gonzaga University baseball and 17th season as a member of the Bulldogs' coaching staff. Since being named head coach, Machtolf has posted a 130-113 record for a .535 winning percentage, placing him third all-time in Gonzaga history. During his tenure with the Zags', he has led the Zags to four-top five finishes and produced the 2004 WCC Player of the Year, Kiel Thibault, and the 2007 WCC Pitcher of the Year, Clayton Mortensen. He has overseen 33 Zags who have signed professional contracts, including 22 that were drafted into the Major Leagues. Under his guidance, Gonzaga has also landed 69 all-conference selections in addition to 15 All-WCC Academic honors. During the summer of 2006, Machtolf served as an assistant coach for Team USA. Under his guidance, the team posted a 28-2-1 record, including going a perfect at 8-0 record the Federation Internationale du Sport Universitaire (FISU) World Championships in Havanna, Cuba. A 1987 graduate of Stanford University, Machtolf was a member of the Cardinal's 1987 College World Series championship team and was an All-CWS selection.